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Between January 2024 and November 2025, Healthwatch Medway spoke to 799 residents across Medway to understand how wider social issues affect health and wellbeing. This report focuses on the 146 individuals who, unprompted, told us their experiences accessing local transport.
Most people we spoke to told us they are struggling with unreliable buses and congested roads, making it harder to get to work, school, and healthcare.
Download the full report
We’ve published a new Insights report exploring what 146 Medway residents told us about using local buses, trains and roads. You can download the full report below to see all the findings and detailed feedback.
Local Transport Insights From Medway Residents - A Healthwatch Medway Report, February 2026
80% of feedback about local buses was negative, with residents repeatedly raising issues about reliability, punctuality and infrequent services.
Why that matters
For many people who don’t drive, especially older residents and those with disabilities, the bus is a lifeline. When buses don’t turn up, run only once an hour, or don’t run late into the evening, people miss school, work and medical appointments. This is contributing to stress, isolation, and unfair barriers to essential services.
100% of feedback about travelling by road was negative, with people describing traffic, parking problems and roadworks as overwhelming.
Why that matters
Congested roads don’t just cause delays, they increase stress, limit people’s ability to travel, and in some cases, stop people from leaving home at busy times. Residents told us that poor road quality, ongoing roadworks and limited parking all contribute to anxiety and reduce their overall wellbeing.
Local transport in Medway is not meeting the needs of the people who rely on it most. Older residents, disabled people, and those living in Strood, Chatham, Rochester and Cuxton are disproportionately affected. Issues with buses, trains and roads are widening inequalities by making it harder for people to access education, employment, healthcare and social opportunities. We’ll continue to share local voices with decision‑makers so that transport in Medway works better for everyone.
